Kailey's back went rigid, and after a lingering moment, she slowly turned around.

Ryan had just stepped out of the shower, water still dripping from his hair. Even in dark gray loungewear, he looked as sharp and handsome as ever. With his stern expression set aside, he could have easily passed for any woman's ideal man.

Kailey kept her lips tightly shut and turned her head, deciding not to say anything.

Olivia's gaze flickered between the two, then she gave Ryan a playful glare before looping her arm through his. "Why are you being so aggressive? Kailey just woke up. Who isn't grouchy in the morning? You're not exactly gentle yourself, you know."

Her words sounded like a gentle rebuke, but the teasing lilt in her voice softened the edge.

Kailey's face lost its color, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't really belong.

Ryan's mood hadn't fully lifted, but the tension in the room eased a little. He patted Olivia's shoulder lightly, offering a bit of comfort, and then looked at Kailey with a serious gaze. "Come to the study with me."

Without a word, Kailey followed.

Olivia spoke after them with a worried frown. "You may be her uncle, but you don't have to be so hard on her. Try speaking to Kailey gently for once."

Kailey scoffed quietly to herself. They weren't even married yet, and Olivia was already playing the part of the wife.

Distracted by her thoughts, Kailey didn't realize Ryan had stopped until she bumped right into him, the impact making her nose tingle.

"What's got you so lost in your head?"

Ryan's deep voice rolled over her, and Kailey looked up to find his cold eyes locked on hers.

Almost without thinking, she replied, "Don't you know what's on my mind?"

Whether it was the last flicker of hope or just curiosity about his reaction, the words slipped out.

Ryan's brows knit tighter. He regarded her for a long, silent beat before finally speaking. "Kailey, I've already warned you not to entertain any misguided ideas. You're about to graduate, and I'll make sure you find a suitable boyfriend, but it will never be me. I'm your uncle, and soon Olivia will be my wife. You need to give her the same respect you give me. Do you understand?"

This was the first time Kailey had ever heard him speak so plainly.

Not only did he not share her feelings, but he was determined to arrange her future with someone else.

That lined up with what Kyson had said.

What had she been expecting?

Wasn't she the one who'd tried to put all this behind her already?

Kailey exhaled slowly, realizing it wasn't as hard to let go as she'd imagined.

She nodded. "I understand, Uncle Ryan."

Ryan's eyebrows rose, caught off guard by how quickly she accepted his words.

Usually, she only addressed him so formally when she wanted to be forgiven after stirring up trouble, and she always argued back.

Convinced that Kailey had finally learned her lesson, Ryan's face softened. "You know, Olivia goes out of her way to be kind to you. She even made breakfast this morning. Try not to be so cold toward her, alright?"

Kailey couldn't help thinking that even if Olivia hadn't cooked, Ryan would have. Besides, food was the last thing on her mind. Still, she kept her thoughts to herself and replied, "Alright. I'll get along with her."

The change in her attitude left Ryan unsettled. He watched her for a long moment, as if searching for something more to say, before finally asking, "Why didn't you show up last night?"

Yesterday had been his twenty-eighth birthday. Kailey had gone to the club but hadn't gotten into the private room.

As she mulled it over, Kailey answered quietly, "There was a seminar at school that ran late. I was exhausted, so I just went straight home. Happy birthday, Uncle Ryan."

All she wanted now was to tie up loose ends and quietly move on, so she saw no reason to linger or explain further.

Ryan nodded, hesitated a moment, then reached out and gently patted her head. "If you ever need to talk, you can come to me. Don't keep things bottled up. Go on, eat something."

Kailey hadn't expected to ever find herself here, sitting down for breakfast with the man she loved, eating food made by the woman he loved.

She briefly considered excusing herself, but realized if she was truly ready to let go, she could handle scenes like this.

Besides, she would leave the city soon.

Once breakfast was done, Ryan headed upstairs to change.

Kailey planned to go back to her room to pack her things. She had to meet her mentor at the university later to discuss her internship in Aslesall.

"Kailey."

The voice made Kailey stop in her tracks.

She turned to see Olivia at the kitchen door, rubber gloves on, leaning against the frame with effortless poise, the very image of a woman in charge.

Kailey felt a tightness in her throat but kept her face blank as she asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing urgent, just wanted to have a quick chat." Olivia smiled softly, though her eyes betrayed no warmth. "I heard you've always excelled in your studies, even skipped grades, right? Now that graduation's around the corner, have you chosen where you'll do your internship?"

Her words sounded kind, but Kailey could tell she was digging for information.

With a polite, empty smile, she replied, "I don't think that's any of your business."

Originally, Ryan had arranged for her to intern at a company under Owen Group. The thought had thrilled her; she had imagined working side by side with him. But now, none of it seemed to matter.

Olivia's face tensed for a moment before she forced a smile. "I just wanted to check in on you. After all, Ryan is a man, and there are plenty of things he might not be comfortable discussing with you."

Kailey almost pointed out that she had always confided in Ryan about anything and everything. But then she remembered that Ryan's heart belonged to Olivia, not her. There was no point in arguing.

"I get it," Kailey replied, her tone neutral.

Olivia blinked, surprised by the lack of resistance. After a moment's hesitation, she offered, "You're grown now. Isn't it a little awkward, living with Ryan? Maybe you should come stay with me instead. It would be nice to have your company."

Kailey had heard plenty of stories about messy love lives and watched enough romantic dramas filled with lies and schemes. She used to think they were exaggerated, but now she realized they weren't so far from reality. Olivia wasn't inviting her out of kindness; she just wanted her out of Ryan's life.

That familiar lump rose in Kailey's throat, prickling like a splinter. Unable to contain herself, she stepped closer, locking eyes with Olivia. "Should I be grateful for your kindness?"

Something about Kailey's steady gaze seemed to rattle Olivia. She retreated a step, flustered. "No need for that."

Suddenly, her eyes darted over Kailey's shoulder. She softened her voice. "Kailey, you shouldn't worry that I'll take Ryan away. He'll always care for you. I..."

Olivia hadn't finished her sentence when she tripped over the threshold, falling backward with a thud.

Kailey instinctively moved to help her, but before she could react, someone yanked her aside, hard enough to make her collide with the table's edge.

Ryan glared at her, his expression cold and full of disappointment. "Kailey, the older you get, the more cruel you become!"

Ryan's eyes were cold and unyielding, freezing Kailey in place, unable to utter a single word.

Pain radiated from her bruised side, but all she could do was watch in silence as he gently picked Olivia up and carried her away, leaving her behind.

Hot tears spilled down her cheeks before she realized it, and Kailey could only sniffle, rooted to the spot and unable to move.

Not long after, the distant sound of the front door swinging open broke the silence.

The cleaning lady arrived, humming to herself as she made her way toward the dining room. The cheerful tune stopped short when she saw Kailey. "Kailey, what happened? Why are you crying like this?"

That simple question undid her last bit of composure. Kailey's words came out shaky. "Can you help me? My side hurts so much."

The woman wasted no time. She called the property manager for a car and quickly took Kailey to the nearest hospital.

After a full round of tests, the results brought a small sense of relief—nothing serious had been damaged.

"Try to avoid bumping your waist for a while, and remember to use the ointment regularly." The doctor glanced at Kailey, taking note of her youthful face. "There might be some nasty bruises, but they'll fade before long. Don't be too concerned."

Kailey thanked him quietly and followed the cleaning lady out.

As they stepped outside, the woman turned to her. "Would you like me to call Mr. Owen for you?"

"There's no need for that."

Kailey figured Ryan was probably busy fussing over Olivia, and there was little chance he'd spare a thought for her right now.

A wry smile touched her lips as she gently twisted her waist, finding the pain had eased a bit. Handing the ointment to the cleaning lady, she said softly, "You can head back now. I'm going to school."

The woman hesitated, worry etched on her face. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"The doctor said it's nothing serious—no bones were hurt. I'll manage."

It took some convincing, but the cleaning lady finally agreed to leave. Alone in the back seat of the car, a wave of loneliness washed over Kailey.

She'd lived under Ryan's roof since she was a child, always feeling shielded from harm. Yet now, when she truly needed someone, the only comfort came from the cleaning lady.

She sighed inwardly, realizing all relationships eventually drift apart; hers with Ryan just ended a little sooner than most.

Later, after submitting her paperwork, Kailey informed her mentor of her intention to intern in Aslesall.

Her mentor blinked in surprise. "Aslesall? That's such a long way from here. I thought you couldn't bear to leave your uncle and planned to join his company. Wouldn't he be worried if you went so far?"

Kailey hesitated, uncertain how to explain her complicated history with Ryan. After a pause, she replied, "We aren't related by blood, and I can't keep relying on him forever. I'm turning twenty-one soon. It's about time I learned how to stand on my own. He has no reason to object."

Her mentor considered her words and let out a soft sigh. "You know, no one needs to tell me how much your uncle cares for you. It's something everyone on campus can see, teachers and students alike. Even now that you're nearly grown, he still shows up to drive you home, as if he's guarding you from every possible danger. But you're right about wanting to grow on your own—there's a lot to learn beyond these walls. I really believe you're going to do well, no matter where you go. I'm rooting for you."

Kailey gave a grateful nod and lingered for a few minutes to chat before leaving the campus behind.

Her college days hadn't lasted long, but her mentor's words brought back memories.

During her first year, Ryan had even bought a place near campus so he could cook her meals.

That kind of care felt like a lifetime ago.

Now, his world revolved around someone else—someone he truly wanted to cherish and build a future with. Kailey understood that, deep down, her presence was starting to feel like a burden to him.

Maybe stepping away was the best way she could show her gratitude, a quiet parting gift.

She was certain Ryan would be too occupied with Olivia to come home that evening.

But as she stepped inside, she caught sight of him on the couch, focused on his laptop.

The sound of the door made him glance over. "Back from class already?"

Kailey hadn't expected to see him. The cleaning lady must have kept him updated.

"Yeah," she replied, setting her things quietly in the cabinet. After a short pause, she asked, "How's Olivia? Is she alright?"

Hearing Olivia's name made Ryan's brow tighten, irritation flickering across his features.

Kailey could sense he was ready to scold her for hurting Olivia again, so she lowered her head and kept quiet.

To her surprise, Ryan changed course. "I left in such a hurry earlier. The cleaning lady told me you took a pretty hard hit against the table. Was it bad?"

Kailey's hand balled into a fist at her side, then slowly loosened. She stared at the floor and replied quietly, "It's nothing. I'm alright."

Ryan didn't buy it for a second. He remembered the cleaning lady mentioning that Kailey had been in tears—something that hardly ever happened. She'd always been tough, so the pain must have been unbearable.

He closed his laptop, set it aside, and moved toward her. "Let me check your injury..."

When he reached out, Kailey instinctively stepped away.

Ryan's hand hovered in the air, the gesture unfinished. Surprise flickered in his eyes at her retreat.

"Kailey?" His voice was gentler, conflicted. "I know I was only thinking about Olivia at that moment, and I missed what you were going through. I'm sorry, okay?"

A dull ache settled in Kailey's chest. All his worry had been for Olivia—he hadn't seen her at all.

With her head bowed, Kailey kept her face hidden and replied in an even voice, "It was just a bruise. Nothing compared to Olivia's injury. You should stay by her side."

"You're certain you're alright?"

"I'm fine."

Ryan studied her for a long moment before easing up, deciding she meant it. Knowing her temperament, he figured she'd have made a fuss if things were really bad.

He was about to continue the conversation when his phone rang. He picked it up, his voice softening instantly. "Olivia? What happened? Are you hurt?" he asked, grabbing his jacket without missing a beat. "I'll come right away."

He hurried toward the door, then paused and glanced back at Kailey. "If anything comes up, let me know. Take care, and try not to go out unless you need to."

Kailey stood in silence, watching as he hurried out, started his car, and disappeared down the street.

The quiet stretched around her, her waist beginning to throb again.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed from inside her bag. The screen lit up with Kyson's name, and a lump rose in her throat.

She answered, voice tinged with vulnerability. "Kyson, I got hurt."

Kyson seemed caught off guard by the shift in Kailey's voice. For a moment, everything went quiet except for the faint rustle on his end.

He finally spoke, his voice sounding parched. "Did something happen? Did you go to the hospital already? Where are you? I can get someone to drive over and help."

One concern after another tumbled out of him, each word packed with worry he did not bother to hide.

Kailey couldn't help but find his anxiousness a little endearing.

"It's nothing dramatic, just a small bruise on my waist." She drew in a few calming breaths, letting the frustration fade as she settled onto the couch. "I already saw a doctor. He gave me some ointment and said it's not a fracture or anything."

Kyson went quiet, then let out a breath that sounded almost relieved. "Since I can't be there, could you do me a favor and watch over my future wife for me?"

He dropped the word "wife" so easily it made her heart skip.

A flush crept up Kailey's cheeks. "You're talking nonsense again."

"That's not nonsense at all. I'm serious, Kailey." He chuckled, and she could make out the sound of soft footsteps as he wandered somewhere.

Kailey fumbled for words, feeling thrown. Changing their dynamic so suddenly left her flustered and strangely exhilarated.

Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, she tossed out a playful question. "Were you about to hop on a plane just to check up on me?"

Kyson took a beat before answering, "Honestly, the thought did cross my mind. But I'm out of the country right now. I flew off for a last-minute business trip yesterday."

For a second, Kailey didn't know what to say. Her teasing had landed closer to the truth than she'd expected. Something soft and bittersweet settled in her chest.

Kyson spoke up again before she found her words. "Listen, I've got a friend who runs a top-notch wellness center. She's an expert with massages. Go see her tomorrow and let her take care of you. I think it'll speed up your recovery."

"That's really not necessary."

"Kailey, don't say no." Kyson's voice was firm. "We're about to get married, remember? It's only natural I want to look after you, especially when I'm so far away. Get upset with me if you have to, but at least let me do this much for you, okay?"

It had been a long time since Kailey had felt someone fuss over her this way—not since Olivia came back home.

A small sniffle escaped as she nodded.

Then, remembering he couldn't see her, she whispered, "Alright."

The next day, Kailey made her way to the wellness center Kyson had recommended. Tucked in the heart of the city, the place was known for its luxury and exclusivity. Even with money, you couldn't just walk in—you needed a membership and a prior booking.

Running the place was Nora Barrett, a stunning woman and an old classmate of Kyson's.

Once Kailey's treatment was done, Nora walked her all the way to the exit herself.

"If you ever come back, just ask for me. You're Kyson's girlfriend now. No matter how packed my schedule gets, I'll always fit you in," Nora said warmly, her eyes shining with interest. "But in return, you have to spill the details. I want to know everything about how you and Kyson ended up together."

Her curiosity was genuine. For someone like Kyson, always so untouchable, to finally fall for someone? It was a story worth hearing.

After spending some time together, Kailey had grown comfortable with Nora's open nature. She found herself genuinely liking the woman's bold charm.

She gave a light shrug and answered honestly, "There's really nothing dramatic about us. We're just... partnering up."

Nora's eyes grew round, clearly not buying it.

Before she could press further, a surprised voice rang out from nearby. "Kailey, I can't believe that's actually you!"

Both Kailey and Nora turned toward the sound.

Standing just ahead was a couple, hands linked together, looking effortlessly in sync.

Ryan's sharp eyes quickly swept over the scene, and he frowned. "Why are you here, Kailey?"

Kailey opened her mouth, but Nora beat her to it with a teasing laugh. "Isn't that a funny question coming from you? Obviously, she's here to recover from an injury."

Nora had never been one to tiptoe around anyone, no matter their background. She'd built her reputation on honesty, not empty compliments.

The remark left Ryan and Olivia momentarily stunned, their expressions shifting from surprise to mild embarrassment in an instant.

Kailey nearly let out a laugh, but held it in. Ryan hadn't even remembered her injury, yet he'd brought Olivia to this place for recovery. The difference in how they each mattered to him was suddenly obvious. Still, it was probably for the best—less drama for her.

She leaned closer to Nora and whispered, "That's my uncle, though we're not related by blood. And the woman with him is his girlfriend."

Nora's eyes flickered with interest, catching on to the odd tension right away.

With a mischievous "oh," she flashed a polite smile. "My apologies. I didn't realize you're Kailey's uncle. I'm known for speaking my mind, so I hope you'll excuse me if I sounded too blunt."

The remark was innocent enough, but Kailey heard the underlying irony.

Ryan's expression grew shadowed. After a moment, his gaze drifted to the two women standing together. "So, Ms. Barrett, are you and Kailey good friends?"

Nora started to answer, "Not especially, but when it comes to her—" She caught Kailey's warning look and smoothly changed direction. "Let's just say, most of my clients start as strangers and end up regulars."

Relief washed over Kailey, and she chimed in, "Nora's got a real talent for what she does, and I enjoyed our chat."

It was only then that Ryan seemed to recall why Kailey might have come in the first place. Yesterday she'd brushed off her injury, and it had slipped his mind.

Now he gave her a more thoughtful look. "How's your waist? Is it feeling any better today?"

Olivia lingered quietly on the sidelines, the concern etched in Ryan's expression not lost on her.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face, but she held her tongue.

Kailey, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by this sudden burst of attention. She replied causally, "It's much better now."

Ryan misread her detachment as irritation. He gave Olivia's hand a gentle squeeze, then quickly released it. He knew all too well that Kailey had a temper, and the last thing he wanted was to draw everyone's eyes with family drama.

Olivia glanced at her empty hand, squeezing her palm tight as if to steady herself.

Ryan didn't notice. He switched to a more authoritative tone. "If you're feeling better, Kailey, go home and get some rest. Don't push yourself running around, or you'll be complaining to me again if it flares up."

The remark struck Kailey as odd, as if she were always turning to him with her troubles.

She met his gaze, a cool smile on her lips. "No need to worry. I won't make that mistake again."

That simple promise—delivered so firmly—left a brief sting in Ryan's chest.

He looked away, masking the reaction. "You should take a taxi home. I'm staying for Olivia's appointment."

Kailey simply looked his way without offering a response.

Choosing not to engage, she slipped her hand into Nora's and said, "I'm heading out now, Nora. Let's meet up sometime soon."

Nora caught the underlying message, offering a knowing smile as she gently pinched Kailey's cheek. "Of course. Next time, bring him along when you visit."

Of course, she was referring to Kyson. Ryan, however, took it another way.

No sooner had Kailey walked out than he fixed Nora with a firm look. "Ms. Barrett, let's be clear—Kailey is just my niece. I'd prefer if you didn't try to set her up with me."